Aug. 28, 2012—The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Massachusetts (AASP/MA) will offer tool grants through the Collision Repair Education Foundation that will be exclusively available to collision repair students in Massachusetts.

The Education Foundation said the tool grants will be funded through AASP/MA’s members and several fundraisers that the organization has planned. Collision repair students in Massachusetts will be able to apply for the tool grant as part of the Education Foundation’s annual student scholarship and tool grant offerings next spring.

The Education Foundation said the tool grants will help provide Massachusetts’ collision students with the proper repair equipment to become productive and efficient employees immediately after graduation.

“Through a recent school/instructor survey conducted by the Collision Repair Education Foundation, we found that on average students personally spend over $600 on tools for their school’s collision programs,” said Clark Plucinski, executive director of the Education Foundation. “I commend AASP/MA for working together with the Education Foundation to assist their industry’s future professionals and providing the proper tools and equipment that many students aren’t necessarily able to afford on their own. Massachusetts collision students will directly benefit through this program funded by AASP/MA members’ generosity, however I invite other industry associations to consider following their lead and example. Local industry members coming together to fund tool grants, student scholarships, and other forms of support through the Collision Repair Education Foundation can help transform local secondary and post-secondary collision repair programs and the industry’s future.”